WATCH: Fire erupts in Erbil’s Qaisary market, burns down dozens of shops

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A large fire broke out in Erbil’s Qaisary bazaar late Saturday night, causing extensive damage to shops and stores nearby. 

The market area is located at the center of the Kurdistan Region’s capital, near the historic citadel.

The Erbil Civil Defense team are yet to release a report on what sparked the fire and the extent of the damage caused by the flames. According to eyewitnesses, however, the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Shopkeepers on site told Kurdistan 24 the fire had damaged nearly 100 shops, but the civil defense team is yet to corroborate initial numbers and reports.

“Crowds of people gathering near the site of the incident is one of the most common issues we face when trying to contain and extinguish fires in the city,” a civil defense team member told Kurdistan 24 during a live broadcast at the scene of the fire.

“They try to help, but their efforts make the process of extinguishing the fire even slower.”

Firefighters Sunday morning are still working on putting out the fire as flames erupt anew in shops carrying perfume.

Editing by Nadia Riva

(Additional reporting by Hoshmand Sadiq)